Federer plays the game with such elegance and ''fluidity'' that it is hard not to acknowledge him as one of the best players ever. Gonzalez has defeated Federer as a junior to win a Grand Slam title though.
I might be wrong in my earlier post then. I was listening to commentary when somebody said that he has beaten Fed as a junior. Gonzalez 1998 FO junior title came against JC Ferrero, a little research tells me.
He did in the first set though Federer did look a bit human in the first set. Although he did prevail in the end, Gonzalez nearly got the first set.
Facing Federer has never been any easy job for anyone ... Congrats to Federer and his fans I think he has won 6 Grand Slams out of last 7. Its making mens tennis very much less interesting and predictable. There are few good players like Rafael Nadal, James Blake, Andy Murray {new guy}, Marat Safin and few others but they all are two steps down from Roger Federe or you can say Roger Federer is two step up from all companions. But in the end its bad from mens tennis. Cheers fans of Federer. {Great Champion of all times}
He came close to dropping a set mind you, and not many people have looked capable of doing that to him in the tournament.
Good old Rodge the Dodge! He did play a great game under pressure. Especially that first set. The thing the impresses me the most about Fed's game is that he improves with age. Imagine what he'll be like in a few years time. He'll be even better than he is right now! Col
Now Federer is very near to the world Record. I think only 4 Grandslams are the distance to the record.
Yes, he may very will break the record but do you honestly think the depth of men's tennis is as good as it was in the 90's. OK..OK I am in my late 30's.. imagine Fed against a true serve & volleyer, Edberg or Ivanisevic, Wilander & his 4 hour baseline game. Sampras (in his prime), Agassi, Rafter, Courier, (and his French Open championships)... that other Russian top player just retired a few years ago. ..Hewitt in his prime. These guys were grinders and can gut out a match & win. Nadal is the only grinder nowadays & there's no true serve & volleyers. I do like Federer. His incredible elegance, talent and plain sick shots that people never try do put him on a pedestal but I think his era of players are weaker than the past 2 decades. Roddick..big serve...ho hum..Blake...speed demon and a forehand...not in the same class as a Sampras or Agassi talent...or even Courier..hey I forgot to mention those spaniards who dominated the clay cts in the 90's..Sergio Bruguera, et al. anyway Federer should get there and beyond...I think 20 grand slams is in order before he's all done, unless we get another all court equal talent. The guy has uncanny mental toughness and a higher skill level when he needs it. when he's playing bad, his match is either on serve or he's 1 break down...not much for him.